“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” Revelation 5:1-4
Here we see God holding a book, all sealed up with seven seals. And the question is asked “Who is worthy to open this Book?” Nobody is found who can do this and John, who in the vision represents God’s people, begins to weep with sorrow.
What is this book? Well, as the prophecies unfold in Revelation, we can see it stands for the messages found in the Word of God, and it includes the History of man on earth; the Prophecies; and the plan of Salvation.
When man fell into sin, and this world was taken captive by Satan, there was no way it could be saved, except one. The Creator Himself, Jesus, had to pay the price; no one else was ‘worthy’; no other being could do it. Here we see that again, Jesus is the only One who is worthy to open the seals and reveal His Word to mankind and all His created beings.
But, how does the Word of God get sealed up so no one understands it? It happens when men follow men, and listen to them, instead of studying and learning from God for themselves, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. The Scribes and Pharisees in Jesus’ day had done this.
“The scribes and Pharisees professed to explain the Scriptures, but they explained them in accordance with their own ideas and traditions. Their customs and maxims became more and more exacting. In its spiritual sense, the sacred Word became to the people as a sealed book, closed to their comprehension.” Signs of the Times May 17, 1905.
They had the word of God in their hands; but the traditions which had been handed down from generation to generation, and the human interpretation of the Scriptures, hid from them the truth as it is in Jesus. The spiritual import of the sacred writings was lost. The treasure house of all knowledge was open to them, but they knew it not. God does not conceal His truth from men. By their own course of action they make it obscure to themselves.
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.” Revelation 5:5-7
Now we see one of the elders say to John; “Don’t cry, there is hope. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered and can open the book.” John turns around to see this fierce Lion, and what does he see? Why he sees a Lamb. And not just a sweet little gentle lamb, but this Lamb is wounded and dying, it is the Lamb that has been slain.
But there is something very special about this Lamb; it has seven eyes, and seven horns. We already learned that eyes mean spiritual insight; the Holy Spirit; the ability to ‘see’ the future; and also knowledge. Seven means perfect, complete or ‘all’. This ‘Lamb’ has all wisdom, knowledge and ability to know the future.
He also has seven ‘horns’; again seven means perfect and complete, and horns stand for power, rulership, a king. So Jesus, the slain Lamb of God has all Power, in heaven and earth.
This is surely a wonderful Lamb. If we, the way humans think, were going to show a mighty power, we would show a roaring Lion, or something savage and fierce. But God shows us the One who has all power in heaven and earth; the slain Lamb of God.
“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” Revelation 5:8, 9
“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:10-12
Next we see the thousands and ten thousands of angels and heavenly beings declaring that, yes indeed, Jesus, the Precious Lamb of God, is worthy of all praise and honor. Jesus, the Lion of Judah, can unseal what has gotten sealed up by man’s customs and traditions!
“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13, 14.
Finally we see all the creatures in the whole universe declaring the same thing, “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
When the ‘Great Controversy’ between Christ and Satan is all ended, every being in heaven and earth and the whole universe of other worlds, will agree that God is right, and He could have done nothing better than what He did, to save mankind. Even Satan and the lost will admit this. How sad that they admit it too late.
Let us be among those who know it now, and admit it now, and tell others about it now, that Jesus is Worthy! Worthy of our love, our trust, our obedience, our worship and our hearts forever. “And the four beasts said, Amen.”
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